Police Arrest

[Onuohakk]

Information reaching out by a local news outlet RNS, state that a former chief of Russia post local branch has been arrested by the Russia police on suspicion of running a crypto mining farm inside the office for almost six months. During the period of his mining the federal service of Starvropol territory has spent about 30,000 Russia rubles.
Link to source: https://cointelegraph.com/news/russian-police-arrest-former-post-office-branch-chief-for-mining-crypto-at-work.

If you're to be the judge, how will you handle this issue of abuse of power?

[mk4]

I'm no judge, and I know little to nothing about law, but if you run a crypto mining farm inside the office even if you shouldn't, and especially knowing that it isn't even related to your job, that's easily theft of government resources. Assuming everything goes fairly, chances are, that former chielf of Russia is probably going to do some jail time.

[UserU]

I'm no judge, and I know little to nothing about law, but if you run a crypto mining farm inside the office even if you shouldn't, and especially knowing that it isn't even related to your job, that's easily theft of government resources. Assuming everything goes fairly, chances are, that former chielf of Russia is probably going to do some jail time.

Exactly. What was that guy thinking about running an obvious farm without attracting some sort of attention.

[mk4]

Exactly. What was that guy thinking about running an obvious farm without attracting some sort of attention.

I'm not convinced that he's THAT stupid for thinking that no one would notice a mining farm running. It's probably more of that he thinks no one is going to snitch him out, probably because he's a regional post office chief.

Anyway, the event OP's talking about: https://cointelegraph.com/news/russian-police-arrest-former-post-office-branch-chief-for-mining-crypto-at-work

[Baofeng]

Not the first time that we have heard high profile personalities in Russia abusing their privilege to mine cryptos, Russian nuclear scientists arrested for 'Bitcoin mining plot'.

[stompix]

~  running a crypto mining farm inside the office for almost six months. During the period of his mining the federal service of Starvropol territory has spent about 30,000 Russia rubles.

https://cointelegraph.com/news/russian-police-arrest-former-post-office-branch-chief-for-mining-crypto-at-work

According to local authorities behind the investigation, the Federal Postal Service of Stavropol Territory suffered damages over 30,000 Russian rubles ($427.50 U.S. dollars).

Wow, he has stolen 70$ worth of electricity a month.
Such heinous crime that can trigger an economic recession in the entire Stavropol Krai should be punished as sabotage against the country, a life sentence without parole would be an act of mercy for this treachery.

Exactly. What was that guy thinking about running an obvious farm without attracting some sort of attention.

Mining farm....
At the price of 4cents per kWh according to Knoema for that region, it gives a total of 1750 kWh per month consumed, that's not enough to feed two s9 miners.
Farm, lol!

[mk4]

Wow, he has stolen 70$ worth of electricity a month.
Such heinous crime that can trigger an economic recession in the entire Stavropol Krai should be punished as sabotage against the country, a life sentence without parole would be an act of mercy for this treachery.

Mining farm....
At the price of 4cents per kWh according to Knoema for that region, it gives a total of 1750 kWh per month consumed, that's not enough to feed two s9 miners.
Farm, lol!

Sure he would've most probably get a lot more in trouble if he instead stole millions worth, but regardless how big or small the value stolen is, in the end, it doesn't really change the fact that it's technically still theft. He probably doesn't deserve like a decade of jail time, but he still deserves to be punished one way or another. At the very least him getting fired.

[DdmrDdmr]

In terms of energy consumption, the case seems pretty small compared to the 60M Rubles involved in energy expensed in this 2018 case: Large Mining Farm Discovered in Abandoned Russian Factory.

The case being mention in the OP stole an equivalent of 427$ worth of energy (30K Rubles). That value won’t likely warrant much more than a fine and a repayment plan. Taking into account that the average salary for a senior police officer in Russia is of 58K Rubles per month (see http://www.salaryexplorer.com/salary-survey.php?loc=179&loctype=1&job=504&jobtype=3), the skimmed amount of energy adds up to around half of a police officer’s salary.

[Macadonian]

In terms of energy consumption, the case seems pretty small compared to the 60M Rubles involved in energy expensed in this 2018 case: Large Mining Farm Discovered in Abandoned Russian Factory.

The case being mention in the OP stole an equivalent of 427$ worth of energy (30K Rubles). That value won’t likely warrant much more than a fine and a repayment plan. Taking into account that the average salary for a senior police officer in Russia is of 58K Rubles per month (see http://www.salaryexplorer.com/salary-survey.php?loc=179&loctype=1&job=504&jobtype=3), the skimmed amount of energy adds up to around half of a police officer’s salary.

Will result in the loss of his job along with a repayment plan and a penalty added on top of that for using government resources. Although this could be one of the people that are made as an example to others to not try to pull this shit and more severe actions could be taken but you are probably right and the worse thing that will happen is a repayment plan with a little extra taken out of his salary on a percentage basis.

[LTU_btc]

30k rubles in 6 months is just over $400. Such thing can't be even called as mining farm. 1 or 2 rigs isn't farm. What a dangerous criminal! Though, it's still crime and thst guy should be punished. I don't think that he should be sent to jail, it would too strict. IMO, best decision would be give him fine and also cover electricity expenses. But I'm not judge.
I doubt that this man was able to set up bigger farm because it barely would be unnoticed. You know, noise, significantly increased payments for electricity.

[nc50lc]

Exactly. What was that guy thinking about running an obvious farm without attracting some sort of attention.

Mining farm....
At the price of 4cents per kWh according to Knoema for that region, it gives a total of 1750 kWh per month consumed, that's not enough to feed two s9 miners.
Farm, lol!

I got a feeling that he's one of those "free-electricity guys" in the Altcoin mining section that I've seen before (About 8 of them).
I remember someone who said they are mining in the basement of something and controlling their rigs from home.

1750 kWh sounds enough for a 6-10 GPU Rig. Still, not enough to be called "mining farm".

[Wexnident]

Behind the bars. Easy judgment tbh. Considering he pretty much abused his position, basically leeching off electricity from others. Sides, considering he's of a high position, I doubt the judge is going to spend much time considering how the hell did this guy even not think of the repercussions of his actions. Basically pushing his influence thinking he could get away with this. Jail time and also make him pay the ~$400 his rig spent should be enough I suppose? Though the rig he has really seems quite small, I don't even know why this made the news. The one below that talks about the miners who stole $200k a month seems more like a better option to report on than this.

[HeRetiK]

Exactly. What was that guy thinking about running an obvious farm without attracting some sort of attention.

I'm not convinced that he's THAT stupid for thinking that no one would notice a mining farm running. It's probably more of that he thinks no one is going to snitch him out, probably because he's a regional post office chief.

Guy probably had his own office, so for all we know he might have simply "hidden" them there. After all according to the wattage it was at most 1-2 rigs running. Additionally that's such a small scale that most people won't bother calling someone out on it, especially if they are their superior. I'm honestly surprised somebody bothered at all.

[Velkro]

on suspicion of running a crypto mining farm inside the office for almost six months

Many get away with it but any institution/company must pay electricity bill and if that bill will raise  in significant way they will search why.
Thats short way of discovering illegal mining operation. Saw too much "free electricity" posts in mining community over the years. There is no free electricity, someone must pay for it.

[KrisAlex18]

I don't have any idea about the law but can someone tell me if mining inside the office is really a crime?

I can't see anything wrong with that but if it against the law, the people who are involved in those mining inside the office should be arrested. There would be nor person the is exempted about the crime they have done. In some other side, having that kind of mining would be great for the company if they are also responsible for such things. It would benefit them in earning more bitcoins.

I'm no judge, and I know little to nothing about law, but if you run a crypto mining farm inside the office even if you shouldn't, and especially knowing that it isn't even related to your job, that's easily theft of government resources. Assuming everything goes fairly, chances are, that former chief of Russia is probably going to do some jail time.

Indeed, doing other things while you are at work is not really good, you have to be responsible for the things you have done. Once you are at work, you shouldn't do something that is not related to your work.

[smyslov]

Information reaching out by a local news outlet RNS, state that a former chief of Russia post local branch has been arrested by the Russia police on suspicion of running a crypto mining farm inside the office for almost six months. During the period of his mining the federal service of Starvropol territory has spent about 30,000 Russia rubles.

If you're to be the judge, how will you handle this issue of abuse of power?

Every country has their own law and punishment for every criminal offense, I consider this offense qualified theft and usurpation of authority, he will have to go to jail and pay for the damages incurred, it's up to the judge to meted how many years and how much compensation but qualified theft is higher than theft, because you are stealing from a company that gave you authority.

[seoincorporation]

Well, here the problem is he doesn't do the mining on its own house or its own installations, that was the big mistake. I think that was what the police considered abuse and the main reason to take him to jail. The profit hi made by mining will be part of the charge.

[bob123]

I don't have any idea about the law but can someone tell me if mining inside the office is really a crime?

As long as he is not explicitly allowed to.. definitely.
He intentionally stole electricity.

That's not less of a crime than stealing office equipment.
Both can get you fired.. or charged.
Most companies simply don't care about someone stealing a pen. But stealing tons of electricity might be something different.

[jossiel]

Unless he asked permission and allowed to do that, there's no problem. But it's likely the opposite and what we're all thinking are correct about what he's done.

He's doing it for free and somebody's paying for the bill so obviously, it's stealing.

[Erumo]

Wow, he has stolen 70$ worth of electricity a month.

Crime is a crime and according to crime codes (yгoлoвный кoдeкc - in russian) it has no value. He will just pay an administrative fine of several thousand russian rubles and be free.